San Diego mayor appoints two members to his executive team

SAN DIEGO — Mayor Jerry Sanders announced Tuesday the
appointment of two members of his executive team under the looming
transition to a strong- mayor form of government in San Diego.

Jay Goldstone, who was selected as the city's first chief
financial officer, will make $194,500 a year and begin work on Jan.
23. Goldstone has been director of finance for the city of Pasadena
since 1996.

Richard F. Haas Jr., assistant director for the San Diego County
Department of Environmental Health since 1998, has been appointed
deputy chief for public works. He will make $168,000 annually and
will start immediately.

"Our city is at a critical time in its history," Sanders said.
"We need talented people who are willing to dedicate 150 percent of
their efforts to helping solve our many problems."

Under the strong-mayor form of government, the mayor assumes
many of the duties previously held by the city manager, such as
hiring and firing department heads and preparing the annual
budget.

The voter-approved switch takes effect after the new year.

As CFO, Goldstone will oversee all aspects of municipal
finances, including preparation of the budget, the issuance and
management of debt and supervise the city auditor, Sanders
said.

While in Pasadena, Goldstone increased the funding ratio for the
pension system from 31 percent to 80 percent, improved the
municipal credit rating and bolstered the city's reserve balance
from 10 percent to 40 percent.

A decade of underfunding has created a shortfall in San Diego's
pension system of at least $1.4 billion, which has led to a
diminished credit rating and sparked numerous federal
investigations.

As deputy chief for public works, Haas will assume the
responsibilities of Deputy City Manager Larry Gardner, who is
leaving the post.

The retired Navy captain and engineer will eventually be in
charge of the city's water, wastewater and engineering and capital
projects office.

Ronne Froman, Sanders' chief operating officer, said interviews
are under way to fill the final two appointments — deputy chief for
neighborhood services and deputy chief for land use and economic
development.

Froman cautioned that emerging from San Diego's financial crisis
will be an "arduous" process that will take time.

"The public needs to know there will be bad news coming out of
City Hall for quite some time," she said. "Most of the problems
around here weren't created overnight, so it will take a while to
come up with some solutions."